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stances. Several corps in that province have been raised to serve for eighteen months, but no corps in Lower Canada has been engaged for a period beyond the 1st of May.

The volunteers generally, however, have been clothed and well disciplined, and it will be now more economical to make arrangements for keeping them embodied for a longer period, either on permanent pay or as sedentary militia, liable to be occasionally called out. I have taken measures to ascertain whether we can retain the services of a certain number of companies along the frontier for permanent duty; and to increase the establishment of a of volunteers now at Missisquoi Bay, raised for general service under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dyer.

corps

A fortified barrack at St. John's on the Richelieu will be necessary for the accom- modation of 800 men, and temporary block houses should be erected at several points near the frontier to connect the posts of the volunteers, and to enable detached parties to check incursions, or the movements of the disaffected.

In the Upper Province I am of opinion that the Fort of Amherstburg should be considerably improved, strengthened, and made sufficiently strong to stand a siege and protect the militia of the western district.

Fort Mississaqua at the mouth of the Niagara is a contemptible work. If a fort were constructed at this point to command the entrance of the Niagara, in connection with a work more retired from the bank of the river, it would give great confidence to the whole district. At Cornwall in the eastern district of Upper Canada, I also think a block house or defensible barrack will be required.

Captain Sandom has applied to me for authority to purchase two steam-boats on Lake Ontario, and to build a large number of gun-boats. I have desired him not to purchase any steam-vessels now on the lake, as none of them are fit for the service for which they are required, but I am of opinion that two steam-vessels should be built on Lake Erie, and two on the Ontario for the protection of the water frontier and the conveyance of troops.

A few gun-boats will be required to be stationed at Gananoque, Brockville, and Prescott, on the St. Lawrence; and at Amherstburg and Sandwich, on the Detroit. No measure would tend more to insure tranquillity in this country than the adoption of some effectual national scheme of immigration to the eastern townships, by which the popula tion of the district of St. Francis could be extensively increased.

I transmitted a letter, dated 13th September, in the year 1833, to Mr. Hay, upon the subject of the immigration to the Upper Province, for the consideration of the Se- cretary of State for the Colonies. Although the proposed scheme had reference to the favorable prospects of the colony, in regard to the many settlers at that time entering the Province with some capital, many of the suggestions contained in the inclosure forwarded to Mr. Hay, might, I think, be found useful in the event of any extensive plan of sending emigrants to this country being adopted. I have transmitted to your Lordship, in another despatch, a copy of my letter to Lord Fitzroy Somerset, with my observations on the modified plan of Lord Howick, for forming veteran battalions for service in Canada. I am persuaded, that were the veteran battalions formed as soon as possible, they might at the present moment, with great advantage to both Provinces, be stationed on the frontier and placed in permanent barracks as proposed.

I have promised the regiments of Glengarry Militia, to bring under your Lordship's notice their supposed claims for grants of wild land, to which they considered that they were entitled when they were first located in the eastern district. Most of the families, from having engaged in the lumber trade, have not succeeded in their agricultural pusuits as well as the settlers of other districts. They were, however, the first to offer their services to assist in checking rebellion in this Province in 1837, and the whole of the militia of the county of Glengarry, in November last, volunteered to cross the St. Law- rence. The young men of Glengarry are very anxious to be located on any wild lands at the disposal of Government. I should reconimend, that a certain number of them should receive land in the Lower Province, on such conditions as would insure their residing on their respective lots.

Lord Glenrly.

My Lord,

I have, &c.

No. 26.

(Signed)

J. COLBORNE.

Sir John Colborne to Lord Glenelg,

Government House, Montreal, March 19, 1839. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 12th October, to Lord Durham, transmitting a memorandum upon the subject of raising a local corps from the regiments of the line, I beg to forward to you the accompanying copy of my observations which were transmitted to Lord Fitzroy Somerset in September last, respecting the measures pro- posed to be adopted by Lord Howick for the formation of a veteran battalion for service in Canada.

My Lord,

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Inclosure 1 in No. 26. -

Sir John Colborne to Lord Fitzroy Somerset.

Head Quarters, Sorel, September 4, 1838.

I REGRET the delay that has occurred in transmitting my observations relative to the points to which my attention is particularly directed, by desire of the General Commanding- in-Chief, in your

letter of the 29th of December, and I beg leave to acquaint you with re- ference to that communication, that being persuaded that the scheme of forming a veteran corps, was proposed entirely as a preventive measure in consequence of the numerous desertions from the regiments serving in the North American colonies, I adverted in my letter of the 8th of May, 1837, chiefly to the impressions which young soldiers receive in this country of the advantage to be gained by passing into the United States, and to how far they might be counteracted if men of that class were assured that they could either obtain their discharge, on their regiments quitting the colony, or that they would be allowed to transfer their services to companies intended to form a ve- teran battalion.

I have, &c.

The Lord Fitzroy Somerset, K.C.B.

(Signed)

J. COLBORNE.

Inclosure 2 in No. 26.

Observations on the modified plan for forming a Veteran Battalion for service in Canada which accompanied Lord Fitzroy Somerset's Letter of the 25th February, 1837.

1. Let the battalion be formed as there proposed by selecting from regiments of the line at the recommendation of the command- ing officers, men of fourteen years' service and good character. Vacancies in the corps to be filled in the same manner.

2. Let the men be paid 18. 3d. for each

day actually employed.

3. Let the soldiers (except in cases of emergency) be allowed at their own wish to have three days in each week at their own disposal.

4. Let them, at their option, be allowed to receive their whole pay without stoppage, finding their own food. If called upon to march, or preferring to receive their rations, let them be furnished with them at the cost price.

5. Let each soldier have his separate cottage, but without land, or with only small gardens extending in front of the rows of houses.

6. Let his service reckon towards his pension.

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Assuming that the principal object in the proposed modification of the original scheme is to form a corps composed of sol- diers who from the advantages conferred on them will be placed beyond the temptation- of desertion to which soldiers in these pro- vinces are frequently exposed, and also that the scheme has in view the important con- sideration of establishing a corps which shall be so organized that the condition and prospects of soldiers transferred to it will be essentially improved. I entertain no doubt that the project may be adopted with great advantage to the country, and that the sol- diers selected for the corps will be grateful for the reward offered them for their past services and good conduct.

This rate of pay should, I think, be received by them, whether they are actually employed or not.

I should recommend that the soldiers may be allowed to work at any time with the permission of the cornmanding officers, and that the proportion of men absent should be called in when required for any particular cluty.

I should apprehend that were soldiers of the Veteran Battalion permitted to find their own food, many of them would suffer from their careless and improvident habits.

Cottages might be built for the Veteran Battalion at Kingston, Toronto, Niagara, and Amherstburg, at which stations troops will be required for some years.

These separate apartments would add greatly to the comforts of the men, and the indulgence would be greatly appreciated by them.

His service should reckon towards his pension, and claim to a certain number of acres of land, to be granted conditionally,

Lord Glenelg,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. COLBORNE.